First, I want to say that Miss Hammurabi is a lovely show and really only got dropped due to the World Cup putting us waaaaay behind schedule. I blame it on our soccer loving souls. The rest of the shows just didn’t really cut it for us which we’ll get into below. (Our newly established criteria for dropping shows is way at the bottom!)
SKETCH
Sketch started out pumping but ended up all sorts of wrong for us. We knew we were probably going to drop it after the first episode, though we gave it four episodes to really decide if it was right or wrong for us (My Ajusshi didn’t really start off on the right foot with us either and ended up being my drama of the year so far).
The first thing that really turned me off was the icky sexual predators and the graphic detail the show used to illustrate just how icky and gross the predators were. I really did not want to watch that every week so I was initially hoping that this was just an initial criminal that would dissapear later. Unfortunately, these criminals didnt’ dissapear quickly enough for me. Plus, more icky criminals were introduced which made me think this is just going to be a show full of despair.
There were other things that made us scratch (or shake) or heads. For instance, This show dwells a lot on the emotional side and not everything makes sense. Like with DS popping his thumb out of the socket in order to escape from the hand cuffs, but then SH shows up right at that moment. She could have released him from the handcuffs had she gotten there 2 seconds earlier. As a viewer, this doesn’t feel satisfying. It feels more like that would belong in a comedy.
It also doesn’t make sense that SH is driving directly after waking up from a coma. Girl, that’s dangerous and maybe not possible. The crying scenes were so long. It was actually a nice break for me because I could sit back and drink some tea. The fight scenes were super long as well, well choreographed, but loooooooong. There were also lots of mini flashbacks as if they don’t believe the viewer remembers what was said earlier in the episode so they have to remind us 3-4 times.
In addition, there are dozens of sketches. So instead of one sketch containing all the information, they have like 5+ per case. This made the sketches into more of a crutch than something interesting.
So for those reasons, and probably a few others I’m not mentioning, we dropped it.
UNDATEABLES
Undateables is actually not that bad. It mostly got dropped because it wasn’t captivating enough to watch the next episode and the last episode we recapped ended on a WTF where the main guy made a bet to get the girl to fall in love with him and then dump her. It came out of nowhere and was a big roll-your-eyes moment for me.
If you like fluffy shows with over the top heroines, then this show is for you.
HAMMURABI
As mentioned earlier, Miss Hammurabi is lovely, the actors are wonderful and I actually recommend watching it if you get the chance. This show only got dropped due to time + World Cup.
We were already stretched too thin on Monday’s and Tuesdays but squeezed in Miss Hammurabi because it looked all sorts of cute and lived up to that hype. But 4 shows is really too much for us in one day and on top of that, we spent the day watching the World Cup instead of recapping it. (If a show can not pull us away from whatever we are doing, then it is a sign that it might get dropped)
This show was good though, the only negative I have is that some of the episodes ended heavy handed on the emotional side. Seriously, the entire episode would be fine but then end on buckets of tears as if their entire goal is to wring you dry.
Despite that, this one is definitely a recommend.
CRITERIA FOR DROPPING SHOWS
Our newly established criteria created after recapping dozens of shows! Are you ready for it?
So the gist of it is that we try to cover at least the first two episodes of all shows coming out. Emphasis on try. But we can only handle 3 shows a day so if we don’t really feel a show then we’ll end up dropping it.
HOWEVER, if we don’t feel a show, but there is a good amount of audience engagement/discussion in the comments, then we’ll consider keeping it on our recap list. Mostly because I know how it feels to watch raw and not know what is going on until subs come out. (I must now RIGHT NOW. I’m impatient like that, hence live recaps.)
But if we truly truly cannot stand a show, then we will probably drop it and scream, I rebuke you! Some shows are like that y’all.
So if you want us to keep live recapping your favorite show then let us know with a comment on your favorite shows recap. If you are a super shy commenter then a “Thank you 😊” is always appreciated. I was a shy commenter myself once upon a time ago.
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Aww I’m sad you’re dropping Miss Hammurabi, it feels so wonderful to me. This is the first time I’ve liked Go ara, I hated her in hwarang. Here, she is a character I can understand & sympathize with. Plus L : OMG, a chocolate boy that can act. I was so happy when the heroine put on her b’day perfume & let him come with her to visit her Mom. It’s got these little moments that are so cute. I also like the episodic nature of the show, it helps that I don’t have to remember exactly everything.
But juggling so many programs can be hard, so do what is most comfortable for you. PS : doesn’t Korea have seperate sports & news channels that dramas keep getting postponed due to elections & football?
Author
Yeah, Miss Hammurabi is super lovely and would keep being recapped if we weren’t watching World Cup games. It’s a really delightful show.
They do have separate sports channels but that might be cable channels only. The main channels (MBC, KBS, SBS) buy the rights to air it and pay a ton of money to Fifa in the process, so I think they don’t want any of their other shows competing with World Cup viewership.
For the election, it kind of seems like Korea has a Nationwide shutdown during the election and only shows election coverage. It is a super big deal after all the turmoil they had in the last 5 years.
Hi V, I’ve been your silent reader for a while. Thanks for putting lots of efforts for us😄. I’m sad that you’re dropping”Miss Hammurabi”, it’s my most favorite shows these days. I actually started to watch Miss Hammurabi after it aired for a while, read your recap, and dropped “Undateable” and “About Time.” To be honest, it was too hard to watch a new show after “My Mister.”
Anyways, thank you very much, and I’ll wait for your recaps.
Cheers
Author
It is so hard to watch any show after My Mister! That show was so good.
Thank You for all that you do
Just showing my support! 🙂 found my way here for Misty and ended up staying:) thank you for all you do and thanks for explaining things.
Author
Thank you Usually super shy 🙂
Miss Hammurabi was good till few episodes but not sure I dropped watching it ..even I dropped My Ajusshi but IU is one of my fav thou..Waiting for subtitles for Something in the Rain got me here ..you are indeed doing a great job.. keep writing…
Note: you should be good in typing wowww ..😂😂😂
Author
OMG you dropped MY Ajusshi 😳.
Are you by chance going to pick up Mister Sunshine? I heard Netflix got it so the sub watch will be strong with that one as well.
I basically don’t like slow drama .. so I dropped .!! May be I shud catch up from where I left .. after your comments .. and will let you know if I regret of not following 🤔🤔🤔
I am like V, you dropped My Ajusshi??? Yes, please give it another chance now that the show is over and you can binge if you like.
I almost dropped “Undateables” after the “I bet you” ending but it took a good turn after that. in fact the next episode may have been the best one yet. And it continued to progress after that even the roommate confessed his feelings and a former friend (who is a girl) is now part making them both having to understand each other’s opposite-gender friendships and loyalties. I hope it moves on to matching some of the remaining undateables (Mr. Busy, Mr. Stunddouble, etc) as that is fun and helps the romance not get too cheesy or front and center. I usually don’t watch the leads dramas, as they are over the top a lot of times as you sad but they toned it down for this drama. The romance is reserved as well which is rare for her but it is her first romance drama since getting married and having a baby so I believe she is showing her husband respect and protecting her child but being reserved in the kiss scenes and other interactions. It is quite an adjustment from her previous dramas though. I am glad she is more toned down though. Maybe the baby has worn her energy out a little or she is just more versatile than she has shown in the past and can be reserved and not always over the top. Anyways, I think you might like it, if you catch up on it but I understand if you want to keep it dropped.
I like Ms. Hammurabi, too but you definitely have to be ready for a serious mood (not a pick me up) to watch it as well as a slow development of romance that maybe never come to fruition and if it does it probably will be the last episode. I haven’t caught up on it or “Come and Hug” me yet cuz I need to be in a serious, ready to cry or feel down afterward mood… Just like “Goodbye to Goodbye” which is really good too but really serious as well.
I understand your delima though- there are so many dramas out right now and the World Cup. And tonight is the Korea-Mexico match. So you have to draw the line somewhere.
Author
I just googled Goodbye to Goodbye, Why hadn’t I heard about this show! It does look good but serious. I might not be in the right mental mood for it now, but the ratings on it look amazing.
We are recording the Korea-Mexico game! Both are favorites so I hope it is just a good match. 🙂 🙂
Yes.. I agree with you..
These day.. The Undateable looks good..
Because different respond from heroin while know about the bet and how KHN tried his best to fix their relationship..
Thanks for all that you do, V! I first came here for HWAYUGI and I AM NOT A ROBOT and have grown to appreciate your eagle eye and commentary.
Enjoy the games. Fighting!
I have put everything on hold (except Kim and Hammurabi) until the world cup is over. H, Even though it’s preachy at times and a bit in your face, I enjoy the intent and the subject. Am loving that they are focusing on his character now. I find more depth in his thoughts.
Thanks always for the recaps and your thoughts.
And how gorgeous is Secretary Lee 🙂
I hope you are not going to drop other show you are recapping like ARE YOU HUMAN TOO, HUNGRY WOK.
I am in a state where there is not network that show the dramas. so I read the recap raw and imagine the scene.
So please don’t drop other dramas.
Author
So far keeping all the other shows. Are You Human Too is great for me (I know some people are kind of annoyed with some things, like the female lead).
We are both still enjoying Wok of Love, it’s a show that is kind of all over the place and yet is still enjoyable to watch for us.
Author
Okay, I just found out how to turn on the like button! Not sure if I’m going to keep it, but I love it right now. Actually, maybe I’m the only one that can see it?
I can see it too!
Just a little word to say thank you for all the work !
I don’t have the time to watch everything and reading your recap helps me choose what to keep watching 🙂
Thank you. I am a silent reader. Thank you for recap!! Greetings from Qatar
Thank you so much for you hardwork!!! I found your website during the hwayugi days and stayed until today!!!
Just here to say we love what you do, V!
oh, and “If you like fluffy shows with over the top heroines, then this show is for you” <– the main reason why I'm not watching "Undateables": I just don't like this actress' style A T ALL ! Too bad, coz I really wanted to watch actor Nam Gung Min ! I looooved him in "Chief Kim" !
Even if you don’t return to recapping it, I would recommend you give Sketch another chance. It’s some of the tightest writing I’ve seen in Kdramaland. Even when I’m thinking (always watching for holes) that “that was stupid & obvious” – low and behind there was a reason why it was stupid and obvious that it makes sense later on.
I don’t make recommendations lightly. I’m currently searching your site t to see if you recapped Chicago Typewriter and/or Healer. If not, I also recommend those two shows as stellar Kdrama viewing.
Author
I loved Healer! I checked out the first two episodes of Chicago Type Writer and I really enjoyed those as well.
I am a wimp so Sketch might be a little too scary for me.